Vest

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION IS A VEST STRUCTURE TO BE WORN BY A PERSON WITH A BODY SUPPORTING BUOYANT WATER BELT. THE VEST STRUCTURE HAS A BELT LOOP PORTION TO RETAIN THE WATER BELT AND PORTIONS TO PASS OVER THE BACK, SIDES AND SHOULDERS OF THE WEARER WITH OPENINGS THERETHROUGH FOR THE ARMS AND NECK THUS SUPPORTING THE BELT GENERALLY AT THE PERSON&#39;&#39;S WAIST.

United States Patent 3,626,530 VEST Laura C. Ecklor, 251 N. Old Manor 67208, and Suzanne E. Smith, 7007 Beachy 67206, both of Wichita, Kans. Filed Nov. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 879,324

Int. Cl. B63c 9/10 US. Cl. 9342 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is a vest structure to be worn by a person with a body supporting buoyant water belt. The vest structure has a belt loop portion to retain the water belt and portions to pass over the back, sides and shoulders of the wearer with openings therethrough for the arms and neck thus supporting the belt generally at the persons waist.

Various types of devices to increase a persons buoyancy by attaching to the persons body are known to prior art. However, these devices are either wholly garments in themselves which are generally unattractive in appearance and cumbersome to wear, or the prior art devices are not designed to remain in one general position on a persons body unless snugly fitted or held there by the person. A popular means of increasing a persons buoyancy especially while engaged in water sports and activities is to wear a belt around the waist made of a light uni-cellular plastic foam like substance. When a person falls into the water, the belt is apt to slide upward or downward on the persons body or possibly completely off the persons body which is uncomfortable as well as undesirable and dangerous.

In a preferred specific embodiment of this invention, a vest structure is provided usable with a water flotation belt, the type conventionally normally worn about a persons waist when Water skiing. The vest includes a structure of net fabric material connectable to the ski belt. The vest when worn by a person covers substantially the upper trunk of the body. The ski belt is substantially completely enclosed in the looped section of the vest on its normally disposed lower or waist portion. The vest extends upward from the ski belt fitting around the back, sides and a portion of the front of the wearers body passing over the shoulders and having holes therethrough for the arms and head to pass. The vest substantially covering the wearers back and sides is partially open in the front with edges of the vest forming an inverted V-shape having the apex at the center edge of the collar, and ends at the ends of the ski belt attachment belt loop. The vest is preferably constructed from one piece of net fabric material which is water resistant and elastic in nature. The vest is preferably constructed to be joined with itself on the normally lower edge forming a pocket to accept and retain the ski belt, and to join itself again forming portions to go over the shoulders of the wearer and having the exposed edges and seams of the material bordered with a weather resistant fabric.

One object of this invention is to provide a vest overcoming the aforementioned disadvantage of the prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a light weight vest structure easily attachable to conventional ski belts.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a vest which provides the wearer increased safety in water sports and activities by generally retaining a conventional ski belt in position about the waist and preventing same from sliding from the wearers body when in the water.

One further object of this invention is to provide a vest which is attractive in appearance, economical to manufacture, simple to use, and readily manufactured in a variety of colors.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ski vest and attached ski belt as worn by a person, the person not shown;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the ski vest and ski belt as formed on a wearer;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the ski vest and ski belt as formed on a wearer;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional fragmentary view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2.

The following is a discussion and description of a preferred specific embodiment of the ski vest of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, a ski belt structure 10 is shown having the vest structure generally indicated at 12 of this invention connected thereto. The ski belt structure 10 is preferably conventional having a generally rectangular relatively large belt like shape and constructed of a substantially flexible and very buoyant foamed plastic material 14, and having an attaching strap 16 and buckle attached and extending from its ends.

The normally lower disposed portion of the vest structure 12 is wrapped subsantially peripherally and lengthwise around ski belt 10 joining itself at a seam 18 and forming a belt loop or pocket. The vest 12 has a back portion 20 and side portions 22 extending upward from the belt loop seam 18 covering the back and sides of the wearer. A collar 24 is formed in the upper portion of the vest structure 12 for the wearers head and neck to project therethrough. It is generally elliptical in planform, and preferably dips slightly toward the front and back of the vest structure 12. Arm holes 26 are formed in the sides 22 of the vest structure 12 for the arms of the wearer to project therethrough. They are preferably somewhat vertically elliptical in form and positioned to be comfortable for the wearer, Joining the arm holes 26 and the collar 24, is a seam 28 joining the front and back portions of the vest structure 12 on the shoulders of the wearer. The front portion 30 of the vest structure 12 is formed by an extended portion of structure adjacent the ends of the belt 10 and the side portions 22 to generally the front center portion of the collar 24. The front portion 30 of the vest structure 12 is open to make it easy for the wearer to put it on and to make the vest structure 12 adjustable for the wearers particular physique.

In manufacture of the vest structure 12 of this invention, it is preferably constructed of a water resistant net fabric material of an elastic nature to provide a structure which by its inherent nature will be self adjusting to provide a comfortable fit for the wearer and snugly fit the ski belt 10. The vest structure 12 is also preferably constructed substantially from one piece of material with exposed edges of the front portion 30, collar 24, arm holes 26 and shoulder seam 28 bordered to prevent fraying of the material and to protect the wearer. The border is preferably made of a weather resistant cloth material of a somewhat elastic nature.

In use and operation of the vest structure 12 of this invention, it is seen that the same provides a light weight structure easily attachable to a ski belt 10 and of suflicient strength to retain the ski belt 10 about the general position of a persons waist while engaged in water sports and activities. The vest structure 12 is easily flexible, thus 3 does not hinder or restrict the movement of the wearer.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the vest structure, a relatively safe and inexpensive means has been provided to receive and retain a conventional ski belt about ones Waist while engaged in water sports and activities. The vest structure is economical to manufacture, simple to use, attractive in appearance and easily adaptable to different persons physiques.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A vest for supporting in water the body of the wearer, comprising, in combination:

(a) a vest structure means adapted to partially cover when worn, the upper trunk of the person,

(b) a buoyant, body supporting belt attachable to the waist of a person, said belt being elongated and rectangular in shape in transverse cross section to be worn about the waist for water skiing,

(c) said vest structure means in the waist portion having belt loop means substantially therearound and receiving therethrough and mounting snugly therearound said belt, and in the upper portion having portions to pass over the shoulders of the wearer and holes therethrough for the wearers neck and arms, and

(d) said vest structure having a frontal portion joined at an upper section and open downwardly and outwardly to the junction of said belt loop means leaving an open central portion so as to be easily mounted and to fit numerous sizes.

2. The vest structure and belt as described in claim 1,

wherein:

(a) said vest structure means is constructed substantially of one piece of material sufficient to cover the back, sides, a portion of the front and passing over the shoulders of the wearer,

(b) said belt loop means of a continuous material substantially encircles said belt both around and lengthwise,

(c) said belt is a conventional buoyant belt capable of supporting a person in water when said belt is properly worn around the waste, said belt can be removed from said belt loop means for replacement and independent usage as not secured thereto, and

(d) said belt has a conventional generally rectangular cross section and lengthwise an elongated rectangular shape with straps and a buckling means on its end portions, and

(e) said material of vest structure means is a mesh fabric, weather resistant and elastic in nature.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 250,442 12/1881 Hunt 9342 261,940 8/1882 Maynard 9342 1,068,816 7/1913 Ortman 9342 1,123,194 12/1914 Kanen 9342 1,143,899 6/1915 Gieve 9342 1,734,619 11/1929 Gates 9342 1,742,104 12/1929 Skoldberg 9342 2,363,639 11/1944 Brown 9342 3,141,180 7/1964 Pursley et al. 9340 X 3,422,458 1/1969 Schueller 22.l R

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,447 1/1916 Great Britain 9342 946,632 1/1964 Great Britain 9342 MILTON BUCI-ILER, Primary Examiner P. E. SAUBERER, Assistant Examiner 

